Civil Engineering with Foundation Year

Civil engineering is the discipline concerned with the design, construction, and maintenance of the infrastructure that society depends on: roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, water supply systems, drainage, railways, and the built environment more broadly. It is one of the oldest engineering disciplines and remains among the most consequential, shaping how people and goods move, how cities grow, and how natural hazards are managed. Civil engineers work on projects that range from individual buildings to national infrastructure programmes, combining technical analysis with project management and an understanding of environmental and social impact.

This four-year full-time degree at Birmingham City University includes a foundation year, which makes the programme accessible to those who need to build their mathematical and scientific foundations before entering the main engineering degree. The programme is designed to meet the requirements of relevant professional bodies, giving your qualification the standing that engineering employers and professional institutions expect. Much of your learning activity is hands-on, and Birmingham City's strong industry links give you access to professional networks and real-world engineering contexts from early in your studies.

You will develop skills in structural analysis, geotechnics, hydraulics, materials science, and design, supported by both theoretical study and practical work.

Civil engineering graduates are in consistent demand across public and private sectors. Infrastructure clients, consulting engineers, construction contractors, local authorities, and national agencies all employ civil engineers, and the range of projects you might work on across a career is genuinely vast. Progression to Chartered Engineer status through the Institution of Civil Engineers or other relevant bodies is the standard career development route for those who demonstrate technical competence and professional commitment.

Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in structural engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnics, or project management.